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'''The Epic of Manas''' is a traditional epic poem of the Kyrgyz people. Manas is the name of the epic's hero. The poem, with close to half a million lines, is twenty times longer than Homer's ''Odyssey'' and ''Iliad'' combined, or about twice as long as the ''Mahabharata''. It is a patriotic work recounting the exploits of Manas and his descendants and followers, who fought to unite the Kyrgyz tribes and to preserve their independence against the Uyghurs in the 9th century. Although the epic is mentioned as early as the 15th century, it was not set down in written form until 1885. Different opinions abound regarding the origin of the epic: the 7th—10th centuries, the 11th and 12th centuries, and the 15th through 18th centuries.
The epic is the classic centerpiece of Kyrgyz literature, and parts of it are often recited at Kyrgyz festivities, in a melodic chant accompanied by a three-stringed ''komuz''. The ''manaschis'' (traditional reciters of the epic) are held in high esteem. A revered manaschi who recently visited the United Kingdom is Rysbek Jumabaev.
There are more than 65 written versions of parts of the epic. An English translation by Walter May was published in 1995, in commemoration of the presumed 1000th anniversary of Manas' birth, and re-issued in two volumes in 2004 .
Manas is said to have been born in the Ala Too mountains in Talas oblast in northwestern Kyrgyzstan (Talas Alatau). A mausoleum some 40 km east of the town of Talas is believed to house his remains and is a popular destination for Kyrgyz travelers. Traditional Kyrgyz horsemanship games are held there every summer since 1995. An inscription on the mausoleum states, however, that it is dedicated to "...the most famous of women, Kenizek-Khatun, the daughter of the emir Abuka". Legend has it that Kanikey, Manas' widow, ordered this inscription in an effort to confuse her husband's enemies and prevent a defiling of his grave. The building, known as „Manastin Khumbuzu“ or „The Ghumbez of Manas“, was probably erected in 1334. On the grounds is a museum dedicated to Manas and his legend.
Numerous places in Kyrgyzstan are named after Manas, including the international airport in Bishkek.

Contents

Literature and References

See also

External links

Literature and References

★ ''Manas''. Translated by Walter May. Rarity, Bishkek, 2004. ISBN 9967-424-17-6

★ Levin, Theodore. ''Where the Rivers and Mountains Sing''. ''The Spirit of Manas''.Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2006

★ ''Manas 1000. Theses of the international scientific symposium devoted to the 'Manas' epos Millenial Anniversary''. Bishkek, 1995.

★ S. Mussajew. ''The Epos Manas''. Bishkek, 1994

★ ''Traditions of Heroic and Epic Poetry'' (2 vols.), under the general editorship of A.T.Hatto, The Modern Humanities Research Association, London, 1980.

See also

★ Music of Kyrgyzstan

External links

★ In-depth site on Manas with translated sections of the epic

★ Manas